Firefighters battle blaze on Eastman Avenue in Syracuse

Update 8:15 p.m.: Firefighters remain on the scene of the Eastman Avenue fire and are continuing to chase hot spots inside the building, Lt. Ken Heffernan said. Nineteen residents of the building are being assisted by the American Red Cross in finding housing, Heffernan said.

Syracuse, NY -- Firefighters are still on the scene of a large fire tonight at 101 Eastman Ave., a large, three-story building at the corner of South Avenue.

The fire, which was reported about 3:45 p.m., was declared out at 5:55 p.m., although firefighters are still dousing hot spots in the building.

Fire roars up a three-story porch in the back of 101 Eastman Ave. this afternoon. Syracuse Fire Chief Mark McLees said that the fire began at the back of the building. The porch later collapsed onto a fire man, who was not seriously injured, McLees said.
Photo by Linda Sexton

The fire started in the back of the building, Syracuse Fire Chief Mark McLees said. The building has apartments on the upper two floors and also holds T & G Used Furniture and Appliances. Smitty's Barbecue Smokehouse is attached on the South Avenue side of the building.

Thick smoke went hundreds of feet in the air and was visible miles away. Ten minutes into the fire, the fire chief on the scene ordered all firefighters out of the building. An hour and 15 minutes after the call, flames were still visible at the peak of the roof in the front. Firefighters had not reentered the building by 5 p.m.

Early in the fire, firefighters were directing water on the back of the building when a porch let go from the back of the building and fell on a firefighter, McLees said. The firefighter was OK and continued to work at the scene, he said.

There was concerns early in the fire that there may be someone still inside, but Lt. Ken Heffernan, a fire investigator, said it appears that everyone in the building is accouned for.

Police blocked South Avenue is blocked for two blocks from West Colvin Street to Elmhurst Avenue.